I've never been on a cruise before and part of the reason is the emphasis on generic and "Vegas-style" entertainment. When I travel, I place a high priority on nightlife and hanging out with a crowd I like. For me, that's cool clubs, music, and young and trendy crowds. I am attracted to some aspects of cruising, but I have a very strong feeling that the entertainment and nightlife is going to be aimed more towards a slightly older and very mainstream crowd. I would have a terrible time if the best nightlife on board consisted of bland disco and top 40 music. And on top of everything, most cruises seem to be out at sea late at night, making it dificult or impossible to go clubbing into the wee hours on the mainland.

Any people in their 20s out there who can give me some feedback on the sort of atmosphere and nightlife I can expect?

I don't think there any cruises that fit your desires. You may wish to find an alternative vacation.

Although many in their 20's cruise, so do many in their 30's, 40's and 50's, etc. Cruises can not cater to one single age group. There are no "cool" or "ultra trendy" ships, according to your definitions. Also, you are correct that with the exception of very few ports of call, most ships sail long before the nightclubs open in the port of call.

I, an most people I know, enjoy the entertainment and nightlife aboard ship (Carnival and Norwegian cruise lines often don't close down their discos until the wee hours of the morning.

For nightlife, I would suggest a land vacation in Honolulu, Acapulco, San Juan or Rio.

I am not looking for an entire cruise ship to cater to my tastes, but for there to at least be something there to appeal to me. Clearly there's something there for people who like rock, jazz, Vegas-style reviews, etc., but just as clearly, they are not offering any nightlife that would appeal to the young adult crowd, in spite of claims to the contrary in their marketing promotions.

I think they could dramatically boost their popularity if they provided nightlife geared towards people like me. I don't consider myself "ultra-trendy" but I wanted to make the distiction between cool club music and top 40 radio.

Claiming that "GenXers" are a market segment ripe for rapid growth is overly optimistic and naive unless they elarn what these people look for in entertainment. Cruising is still very much tailored for older travelers , it seems.

Joe, you can "club" on the ship. We are not partyers but have seen lots of the clubs and such going along good in the wee hours and have met folks who partied hard on the ship. I think that you will find that Carnival will fill the bill for you. Of course you won't get 100% of what you want but it will be close.

Lisa, I realize there's more to cruising than entertainment, but since I can only afford one big vacation a year, it only makes sense to spend that time and money on whatever will be most enjoyable for me. I love swimming and watersports, but you can do these things better on land than on a cruise. I love visiting new places, but I can do that much better on my own than with a group of tourists walking around in a large group with viodeo cameras dangling around their necks (differene between tourist and traveler). I intensely dislike gambling and anything "Vegas-style", as I consider them exceedingly cheesy and boring. And when I travel, I want to party in cool clubs and meet interesting locals from the place I'm visiting, not listening to generic top 40 music and partying with older married and retired folks from my own home country.

I guess I wouldn't bother to explain any of this or even post to this forum if not for the intense marketing trying to make cruises seem like something they're not. I think the cruise industry should either stop pretending that they cater to young people as well as old, or start providing entertainment more suitable for younger travelers.

Nushnakka, "clubbing" is different things to different people. A country music fan would not likely have a good time at a hip-hop club listening to rap, and vice versa. Likewise, a middle-aged married couple would not likely feel at home in a club full of 20-year-olds dancing to techno and hard house any more than a single twenty-something would enjoy listening to Celine Dione and top-40 music.

If you think people like me should just learn to adapt and enjoy whatever environment we're in, then I suggest you give some thought to the idea of asking a bunch of 40 to 60-year olds to party till dawn in a rap club. One thing makes about as much sense as the other.

Let's have a little truth in advertising, folks! How many of you are just undercover travel agents, anyway?

Joe, you are right about "Cool Clubs" on the cruise ships, there are no RAVE parties, no party till dawn clubs, no skin heads, no wierdos, no girls taking there tops off and flashing, no drugs. Just plain good old american fun. We and the others on this board love this kind of atmosphere. Thats why we are cruise addicts. If you think we are all old and feeble and just listen to Lawrece Welk (way befor your time) look at the teen section and the singles cruise section. Joe, a cruise is somthing different to everybody and we all love it for what is. Relaxation. The popularity of this website should tell you that. I hope you find what your looking for, a cruise is not for you. Good Luck.

Hello, You should try the 3 day to nassau on the carnival fantasy. It stays overnight in nassau and there are many things to do (senor frogs right nex to port). This would atleast give you an idea of how cruising is. I am 22 yr old and have already planned my 4th cruise. I love to cruise. I live near DC so I know what it is too party. You are not going to have a variety of clubs but the disco is majority 20's and a great time. I have danced on bars (which they really dont like you to do) and had the best times of my life. Its a totally different experience than you can imagine. Relaxing but a big party. You are able to meet so many people, I have made many friends on cruises. If you want a big party destination go on the carnival sensation to cozumel, there is carlos n charlies, senor frogs, and fat tuesday plus they are there the majority of the day into the night. Any question please email me, trust me you wont regret it, if you do atleast you have tryed it and you know you dont like it. You never know what you are missing or not missing if you dont try it!!!

I'm 24 and my DH is 27 and we are going on our 5th cruise next week and absolutely love them, so they must be doing something that us younger people do enjoy. But we are not party till we puke kind of people, somewhere in the mid-ground. There are several different bars on each ship with each one having a different theme, such as one is generally dedicated to jazz and another to oldies. The disco does a pretty good job of mixing up the music, not just top 40's but what the people are requesting. The disco tends to stay open until 2-4am, I'm not exactly sure since I have never closed the place down.

From what you have said so far, I don't know if cruising is for you. It is not for everyone. But they do a great job entertaining the 20's crowd along with all the other ages on board, you will find everything from infants to their great-grandparents on board and they are all generally having a good time.

Michele, I probably wouldn't mind a short cruise like the one you mentioned. A weekend cruise to the Bahamas or Cancun for under $300 or so would be a fun getaway. But if I can only afford to get away for a week or two a year on vacation, it's definitely not going to be on a cruise.reunion

Cruiseguy, from your comments it's clear to me that we have opposite ideas of the meaning of fun. Sounds like you'd be more at home at a Christian Coalition rally than at any real party. Anyone who considers raves to be synonymous with "skinheads" and "weirdos" and capitalizes the word "RAVES" as if it were the most bizarre concept imaginable is just a tad out of touch, to say the least. And if you think that alcohol and tobacco aren't "drugs", you are misinformed. Alcohol and tobacco kill and injure more people in a year than marijuana or ecstacy have in all history combined.

Joe a Christian Coalition Rally would be preferrable if your kind of party was the only alternitive. Do you dislike Christians also? Keep your marijuana, ecstacy, and other drugs to yourself and stay off our cruise ships. You will be happier and so will we.

Other Cruisemates, I think this guy is a troll and I for one will not reply to him again.

Joe - plain and simple... if you go on a cruise with fun people, you will have the time of your life. We just got off the Carnival Victory (and have been on it's sister ship, the Triumph) there is something for everyone from a disco, to piano bar, sports bar, lounges, martini/cigar bars, and HUGE casino.... pool bars. There's nothing better than being in the middle of the ocean, laying by a pool, listening to a calypso band, drinking a fruity cocktail. If you're in the mood to relax during the day and party at night... I highly recommend it.

Joe, I think you need to stick to South Beach, Panama City, Cancun, Rio , and the Village. You are just too Cool for the rest of us including all the 7.5 million North Americans, young and old who sailed last year. Nothing I like better than reading a post from someone who just wanted to confirm he was too cool for the rest of us. Definately do not cruise. I don't have dark enough sun glasses to protect my eyes from the radiance coming from your coolness nor a shovel big enough to shovel away the bull coming from you.
Take a little advice from Papa. If you need to tell people you are cool, you are not.

In defense of Joe Schmoe, I think he is asking a legitimate question. Unfortunately, he isn't going to get the answer that he wants. I don't think I would have enjoyed cruises in my 20's like I do now, for many of the same reasons Joe Schmoe is turned off by cruises. But now that I am older, I tend to want to relax more and am not into partying. But Joe Schmoe shouldn't totally disregard cruises because many of them have great ports where you are more likely to find more of a younger crowd. To each his or her own I guess. If I were Joey Schmoe I would take a trip to New Orleans--always a fun town!

I have deleted one post already here because it amounted to a very personal attack and am about to delete the thread if emotions don't start calming down some. Simple facts, Joe, cruising is most likely not for you. Many, many younger people love cruising and do party and enjoy themselves and with the current music. I have not seen any very strong or hard rock, rap, of heavy metal or any other type of head banger music if that is what you are referring to. Yes there is some top 40 music and even some classical and jazz etc as well as the occasional oldie. I have even seen swing and 1940's big band music on some ships but by far the majority of the music is in such a range that it has something for almost everyone. You will also not see the "Cancun Spring Break" type partying either, it just isn't done. As for the cruise industry trying to drag the very young in or your type personality, I have yet to see them advertise or even say they want this type person, much less make claims they have this type behavior onboard. They don't really want this type for precisely one of the reasons you stated, you don't have much money and don't like to spend it. If you are really interested in advice. stay off ships, you will probably not like them if this is your main form of enjoyment.
Jim

Well, techno/dance/trance/house music is my favorite, and I haven't found it much on cruise ships, but thats fine by me, because everything else makes up for it! I'm 19 and going on my 4th cruise this November. Wouldn't trade a cruise vacation for any other type of vacation.

Cruises aren't for everyone, but I know for sure they are for me! I don't hang around people my age much on cruises. I usually stick to my family or sometimes find other adults that are nice. I am excited about my cruise in November, I've met some cool CC people, and our CC party was confirmed yesterday. =)

I am 28 and am going on my 8th cruise, I can go to a rave any weekend that I want but I cant go to the Caribbeanevery weekend, a vacation is somthing to get you out of the same old thing you should at least try a cruise and you will see that you will enjoy it I have been taking a cruise every year for 8 years know I started when I was 20 and plan on doing it every year for the next 50 years as there is somthing for everyone on a cruise

I believe that anyone whose priority for taking a vacation is music and partying, in the manner the poster states could find a better avenue for those interest other then a cruise. It would be like someone stating that their passion is camping and hiking, will I satisfy this need with a cruise. The two are different experiences. For me, I enjoy the music as an aside. I like it in the lounges and before dinner but I do not appreciate it by the pool. I would rather listen to the ocean and for me loud bands by the pool take away from the experience.

well if you want to go on a great cruise, you should tyr the conquest the week of 10/26/2003, that is the week that I will be on the cruise and if you dont like the music on the ship you can always come to a party in my suite(7315) as I always bring great music

My wife and I have been on a number of cruises and we typically go in September when most of the "kids" are back in school. It's not that we don't like kids ..... we've raised two sons and would like grandchildren to spoil. On their first cruise, one son did not like it at all and the one other loved it. We'll be taking the one who loved it on our next cruise in July. He'll be 18 then. The older son disliked his first cruise for the same reason Joe is complaining of. It was the wrong kind of music and entertainment for him and he felt there was little for him to do even though he was encouraged to join in with other kids his age in some of the activities specifically designed for them.

My point here is that not everyone is built for cruising. My wife and I enjoy the getaways for lots of reasons but I think the most important one is the getaway itself. No matter where we are, we are together enjoying not only each other's company but the great food, atmosphere and the friends we make onboard. Who could ask for more?

Joe, the best vacation is the one you make the best - as opinions go, mine is in agreement with others that have said cruising isn't for you. And as far as 'truth in advertising' goes, what makes you think anyone is truthful in advertising? It's all a scam to get your money, right? I mean really - why pick on the cruising industry when the restaurant industry is the most blatant violator there is. Think about it - when was the last time you actually got something on a dinner plate that even slightly resembled the picture in the menu or in their TV advertising. I've seen the commercials for Carnival and Royal Caribbean and they don't advertise at all that every 20 year old is going nuts over every aspect of a cruise. They show very truthful and accurate iamges of groups of people of all ages enjoying the many aspects of a cruise, but not every aspect.